David haeeis



D. HARRIS. Umbrella.

No. 228,894. Patented June 15,1880.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC DAVID HARRIS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO EPHRAIM ELIAS EPHRAIM, OF SAME PLACE.

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,894, dated 'J'une 15, 1880.

Application filed January 28, 1880. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID HARRIS, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Umbrellas or Parasols, of which the following is a specification. The objectof my invention is to provide an umbrella combining great strength of frame with facilities for opening and closing with ease, even when in a wet condition. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the umbrella open for use; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation, showing position of parts when partially closed; Fig. 3, view in detail, showing construction of parts.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throug the several views.

The upper portion or top,A, of my umbrella I construct much in the usual way, with ribs B and braces B, connecting the ribs to the runner B and having the usual stop F om the stick or staff.

Upon the stick or staff, above the stop F, I place a runner, O, with its greatest circumference or ring 0 in a downward position.

To the ring 0 are pivoted braces or arms D, which extend from the said ring 0 to the outer or lower ends of the ribs B, at which point they are connected or pivoted, the ends of the arms being forked or split, in which position a pin, E, connects them to the ribs, as shown.

The ends of the braces or forks are made of sufficient breadth and length so that the ends of the ribs B will close in upon or between the forks of the arms when the umbrella is folded, and a perfect closing is had, and the parts 40 will not bind, as the flattened and upwardly.-

extending ends of these arms form a receptacle for the ends of the ribs B to lie in when closed, and,'when opened, a strong support at a point in an umbrella that is ordinarily deemed weak. These supporting-arms D are so arranged with reference to the ribs B as to be parallel with them when the umbrella is closed, and when expanded at a right angle to them vertically, so that a combined and mutual support is imparted to the frame within as well as without, which will enable an umbrella so constructed to withstand a violent storm of wind and rain Without being turned inside out or the ribs broken by pressure from the outside, thereby rendering the umbrella worthless, as the long arms D prevent collapse from the outside as well as fracture from the inside.

With reference to the braces B, the supporting-arms D are so arranged as to break joints with these, and in operation these braces B play up and down upon the runner, to which they are connected, between the arms, while the runner O, carrying the arms D, as the umbrella is opened, runs down the stick to the stop F, and the runner carrying the braces B runs up to the stop F, at which point both runners meet head to head.

In closing, the upper runner, carrying the arms D, runs-up the stick as the hand of the carrier or user draws down the runner B and thus the parts move in an automatic and reciprocal manner.

I am aware that auxiliary supporting-arms or stretehers attached to an upper runner have 7 5 been heretofore applied to the ribs of an umbrella at a point about midway between the end of the rib and the point of attachment of the ordinary brace; but this I do not claim, as such an arrangement of the supporting- 8o arms does not attain the objects contemplated by my invention. By arranging the auxiliary braces or supporting arms D as herein described, so as to connect with the extreme ends of the ribs B, I not only add greatly to 85 the strength of the ribs B and ordinary braces B when the umbrella is exposed to the effects of violent storms, but also render the umbrella capable of being opened and closed quickly, even when wet, without danger of interlocko ing, twisting, or breaking the ribs-accidents which are liable to occur when the ribs in other umbrellas are allowed to come in close contact with each other.

Having thus described my invention, what In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 10 I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pathave hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th ent, is day of January, 1880.

In an umbrella or parasol, the automatic 5 reciprocating runner O and supportingarlns D, extending to and connected with the ends of the ribs, in combination with the ribs B, Witnesses: braces B, and lower runner, B all arranged G. W. M. SMITH, as and for the purpose specified. HOLLAND SMITH.

DAVID HARRIS. 1,. s.] 

